On joining Sara’s hugpong party opposition councilors no ‘collective stand’ yet

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City councilors affiliated with the opposition Barug Team Rama, which is affiliated with the ruling PDP-Laban party, have yet to decide whether or not to join Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (Alliance for Change).

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, chapter president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban in Cebu City, said some of their members have received an invitation from HNP, but the group has yet to talk about it.

“We have not talked about it yet. We're still with the PDP-Laban. Yes, there were communication to us from different personalities, not directly from the good mayor of Davao City," Labella said.

"Well, the group has to be consulted because it is not just me. It has to be a consensus. I don't think there is anything wrong because it is not in conflict with the PDP-Laban," he added.

But the vice mayor said it will not be an issue if members of Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban opt to join the regional party.

“There’s no problem with me,” he said.

Barug Team Rama councilors who are also affiliated with PDP-Laban are Jose Daluz III, Joel Garganera, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Eduardo Rama Jr. and Jocelyn Pesquera.

Duterte formed the group in February together with the incumbent governors of Davao Oriental, Del Norte and Occidental and of Compostela Valley – all in Southern Mindanao.

The HNP was created to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s agenda, such as positive social change, economic growth, peace and order and security, and overall national development in his remaining four years of his term.

Movement

Meanwhile, the Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRHO) fraternity is also backing the “Inday Sara Duterte for Senator Movement,” which is spearheaded by Cebu City Councilor Erik Manuel Espina.

AKRHO national president Gilbert Caballero has signed the manifesto during yesterday’s 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza where the former and Espina were among the guests.

Caballero dropped by Cebu City prior to his engagement in Davao City to meet and greet their founding fathers as main event in celebration of their 45th anniversary today in Matina Town Square.

He vowed to get the support of the four million AKRHO members nationwide for the movement that was launched in Cebu City last Thursday.

In Cebu, Caballero said AKRHO has around 25,000 members.

Caballero also said Duterte-Carpio’s brother, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, is an active member of AKRHO.

Espina welcomed the development saying that they need at least one million signatures from all over the country to convince the presidential daughter to run for senator in the 2019 elections.

Espina said no other senatorial bets from Cebu would run for senator in 2019 elections, but at least Duterte-Carpio has her roots in Danao City.

The group is open to anyone interested to join the campaign, regardless of party affiliation, according to Espina.

But in a Philippine Star report, Duterte-Carpio announced that she will not run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections during the oath-taking of 5,000 new members of HNP at the provincial gym in Malita, Davao Occidental on Monday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque also took oath as a member of HNP, b ut he remains tight-lipped on his political plans.

Even President Duterte has repeatedly said that his daughter is not seeking a national position. — KBQ (FREEMAN)